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Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

Business

Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

Alaskan marijuana businesses can now apply for “Made in Alaska” logos. This feature could help normalize weed in the state.

The Alaskan state government is allowing marijuana businesses to apply to put “Made in Alaska” logos on their weed products. The “Made in Alaska” program is overseen by the Alaskan Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. The logo can only be used on cannabis products that are 51 percent or more produced in Alaska.

Made In Alaska Program

Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

The “Made in Alaska” labels are similar to the “Alaska Grown” ones seen on agricultural products from the state. However, the Alaska Grown program is federally funded.

Cannabis is still federally illegal, so marijuana businesses are barred from inclusion in the Alaska Grown program. In 2014 Alaskans voted to legalize recreational marijuana.

Now Alaskan business practices are making their way into the state’s booming cannabis industry. Cary Carrigan, head of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association trade group, believes the “Made in Alaska” program is a positive step towards normalizing marijuana in the state.

Marijuana businesses are starting to see the same treatment as other businesses in the state.

“I think it’ll be a good thing for us. Anything that says who we are and what we’re doing (is good),” Cary told local sources.

Any business that is certified by the program will be allowed to place a Made in Alaska logo which features a white mother bear and a black cub on products that were mostly made in Alaska.

Application Process

Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

According to state records, a Nikiski business known as Hempco LLC or Alaska Cannabis Company applied for a Made in Alaska certification on July 20.

They haven’t received their certification yet. To get certified they would have to submit a completed Alaska marijuana license for consideration with the Alaskan Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office.

Hempco doesn’t have one, so it won’t get its certification yet. “It’s a new wrinkle, but it’s only a wrinkle,” said Fred Parady, deputy commissioner of the Department of Commerce.

Other marijuana businesses have applied and are waiting for certification. In fact, James Barrett of Rainforest Farms, the first legal marijuana farm and shop in Juneau Alaska, says he applied and is waiting for the result.

In the last year, 1,258 “Made in Alaska” certifications were issued. Jennifer Canfield, one of the owners of Green Elephant Gardens believes the program is a good step but marijuana businesses in Alaska still have significant obstacles that other businesses don’t.

For example, cannabis businesses are banned from the federally regulated banking system.

“It’s always good news when we gain opportunities that any other business has access to, but unfortunately, I can’t even take a ‘Made in Alaska’ certification to the bank,'” she said.

Alaskan Marijuana Sales Jump

Made in Alaska Logos Are Finally Here For Marijuana Businesses

Marijuana sales have reached record highs this summer. In fact, the Alaska Department of Revenue collected about $578,000 from cannabis farmers in July.

The state collected $1.7 million from the marijuana industry from June 2016 to June 2017. Alaska collects $50 per ounce of bud and $15 per ounce of other marijuana product like trimmings and stems.

Final Hit: Made in Alaska Logos

The Made in Alaska logo is a great way for marijuana businesses in Alaska to stand out. Cannabis businesses in Alaska can now market their products in similar ways to non-cannabis businesses in the state.

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